| The Bulletin of Wolf
Council September 29, 2000 Alaska Wolves: Countdown To Stop Land-and-Shoot Killing In Alaska hundreds of wolves were killed in one year through the barbaric practice of same day land-and-shoot hunting. Trophy hunters use airplanes to track and exhaust wolves, then land and shoot them. A citizens group – Alaskans for Wildlife – is working hard to ban these terrible wolf killings through November Ballot Measure #6. But wealthy anti-wolf groups are now spending tens of thousands of dollars to defend this unfair method of hunting wolves. Alaskans for Wildlife must make a key media buy next week to reach undecided voters and help stop this travesty. Turning a deaf ear to the will of the Alaskan public, the governor and the state fish and game department, the state senate voted in early 2000 to reinstate same-day airborne wolf hunting by private citizens. This controversial practice has been prohibited since 1996 following passage of a citizens’ initiative that won nearly 60 percent of the vote. Same-day airborne wolf hunting allows private citizens with a trapping permit or a hunting license to spot wolves from the air, then land and kill them. It will result in the death of hundreds of wolves. Alaska voters will have a chance to end the unsportsmanlike practice of same-day airborne hunting and killing of wolves when the issue is considered in this fall’s election. The Alaska Division of Elections added the measure, ballot measure 6, as a result of more than 38,000 names submitted on petitions to place the issue on the upcoming ballot. Less than Two Months Left To Comment on the Gray Wolf Reclassification Proposal Time is running out. Your input is needed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) gray wolf reclassification proposal. Under the proposal the gray wolf would lose federal protection and limit future recovery efforts in most of the lower 48 states. Defenders of Wildlife designed a reclassification comment card specifically to help people comment effectively during the 120-day comment period open until November 1. FWS will review the comments and any new data and then decide whether to approve, withdraw or partially implement. Please e-mail GRAYWOLFCOMMENTS@FWS.GOV or send a fax to 406-329-3021. You can also visit Defenders’ Reclassification web page to learn more and download a copy of the comment card. Recent Wolf Control In Idaho Sparks Concern Livestock losses have prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to relocate the alpha male of the Stanley pack to northern Idaho and kill a subadult female last week. Since 1997, the Stanley Pack has killed 40 sheep and four calves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nez Perce biologists and private groups are working to use nonlethal alternatives to save the pack and curtail livestock losses. New Idaho Wolf Recovery Coordinator Carter Niemeyer said, "I hope we can get through the rest of the grazing season without any more livestock losses from the Stanley Pack. Though the efforts of Wildlife Services, the Nez Perce Tribe and private citizens, we have attempted to minimize the impacts of wolf depredation on livestock in the Stanley area. Hunting seasons are opening, [cow] calves are being shipped, and the grazing season on public lands is winding down which will help reduce depredation opportunities this winter." He added that FWS will work with the Nez Perce livestock producers and members of the public on long-term solutions to resolve some of these issues. Concerns were raised about the practice of butchering sheep on the grazing allotment because it could bait wolves and other predators and cause livestock depredations. Bill Levere, Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor, said the potential problems of this practice has been brought to his attention and Forest Service rangers have asked herders to stop this activity. Meanwhile, the Idaho wolf population continues to expand. It has the most number of wolves in the western United States, with 15 packs and 16 litters recorded to date. Wolf Awareness Week 2000 Proclaimed by 15 States Wolf Awareness Week, celebrated the third week in October every year, is an opportunity to focus on wolf education and conservation issues. Wolf reintroduction efforts currently underway in the northern Rockies, Southwest, Southeast and Northeast are part of a larger effort to restore ecological balance and promote biological diversity. Defenders of Wildlife believes that Wolf Awareness Week is an important vehicle for dispelling persistent misconceptions and educating the public about the role predators play in maintaining biological diversity. To date, 15 states have issued proclamations declaring Wolf Awareness Week from October 15 to 21. We expect several more states to follow suit. Visit our Wolf Awareness Week website for a list of participating states as well as a list of scheduled events. Defenders encourages schools, zoos and wildlife organizations to promote wolf education from October 15 through 21 and to work to dispel some of the myths that still surround wolves. It is also an appropriate time for activists to redouble their efforts to promote wolf recovery and conservation in their states. Defenders of Wildlife’s New Wolf Discovery Curriculum is Now Available Defenders of Wildlife unveiled its updated Wolf Discovery Curriculum in September. This online standards-based curriculum is free. Created by teachers for teachers, the online Wolf Discovery Curriculum is easy to implement in the classroom. This interdisciplinary science curriculum suggests introductory activities that lead to in-depth lessons in reading, writing, math, social studies and technology. Teachers can now view lessons by content area. The Wolf Discovery Curriculum has new features such as photos of a fox, a coyote and a wolf skull replicas to enhance existing lessons. The curriculum is so versatile that it adapts easily to educators who teach in interdisciplinary teams and block scheduling. Be sure to visit Kids’ Planet frequently because we will be adding more animal specific curriculums in the future! Roberta Pomponio
WolfLines is a bulletin of Defenders of Wildlife designed to serve wolf organizations and advocates. Bulletins are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily represent the positions of all organizations. © Defenders of Wildlife 2000 |
